3


    They arrived on time… well, almost. They just had time to lock the car and get into the church. The warner <b>sisters </b>didn’t bother to look for their aunt and uncle just taking thest pew in the church. Several people turned around to watch them and father Johnson had a frown on his face and his eyes locked on Sutton’s belly.


    +28)


    The service had been going only a few minutes before ir realized it was directed at Sutton. Small town churches were really out of step with the modern world. ir got ready to stand and leave the church in disgust. Sutton grabbed her hand, stilling her from making a scene.


    “Don’t it’s ok. We always knew this town was stuck in the dark ages.” Sutton whispered beside her.


    “It really makes me angry.” ir whispered back, but not as softly as Sutton. The family in front turned to look at her. It was the Turner family, the biggest gossips in town. ir gave them a what are you looking at smile before ignoring them again. ir blocked out what father Johnson was saying. It became a buzzing noise in the background as ir zoned out.


    But father Johnson droned on and on. It felt like forever before the service was finally over. They didn’t wait for father Johnson to move to the door to talk to the congregation as they left. They got up and walked out into the courtyard and gardens outside.


    4:


    ir turned her face up to the sunlight as it warmed her face. For all its small town views, she loved it here. It was their hometown. Within driving distance to the city. The only street they didn’t drive down was their old street where their family home was. It was sad really that their parents had always loved it here and uncle Peter couldn’t wait to move away. But here they were, living in thergest mansion in town and running their parents‘ business. If only she and her sisters had known there were money issues. But they had been too young. She knew that they wouldn’t have cared if they had been broke, if only they had their parents back.


    “Herees the evil witch of the west.” Keira mumbled beside her. She and Sutton turned to face their aunt Viv as she came barreling down on them. She was a slim woman in her early fifties. Her blonde straight hair was cut in a stylish bob the fell to her shoulders and her brown eyes held no warmth when she looked at the Warner sisters.


    She gave Sutton’s stomach a scandalized look. There was no hiding it now. In ir’s opinion, Aunt Viv was too worried about what other people thought. Once she found out about Laura’s pregnancy, what then?


    ir stered a smile on her face that didn’t reach her eyes. This woman might be her aunt, but she didn’t like her very much.


    Sutton spoke first. “Morning auntie Viv.”


    “Yes, well. You could have at least turned up on time.” Was the first words out of her mouth. Not, how are you or so good to see you? Oh no, not auntie Viv, always quick to criticize first.


    Keira said beside ir in a low tone. “Easy for someone to say when they live only five minutes away.”


    “What was that Keira? I really wish you wouldn’t mumble. Speak up, girl.”


    ir jumped in because Keira would have no issues repeating what she had said, but louder this time, so everyone could hear. Of the three sisters, Keiracked tact when speaking to their aunt and uncle. “Sorry auntie Viv, that was my fault. They had to wait until I arrived before we could leave.”


    Auntie Viv turned sharp eyes on her. “Where are you staying then if not with your sisters? Laura rang to say she was very upset you moved out.”


    ir just held back the udylike snort. Laura didn’t give two hoots about her. If she had, she wouldn’t have slept with Dan.


    “With a friend,” was all ir was willing to admit to.


    Auntie Viv shrugged, clearly not concerned. “We really need to talk about getting the wedding back on track.”


    16:08 Wed, 18 Jun


    Keira said for all to hear. “Yeah, that will not happen.”


    95%


    +28


    Sutton, ever the peacemaker of the sisters. Looked around them. “Maybe this isn’t the ce to have this conversation. Shall we head back to your ce, auntie Viv?” Your ce, not our home, because it had never felt like theirs even though they had been taken in as teenagers.


    Vivian looked around them, then eyed Keira, knowing she was the most likely one to make a scene. “Alright, give me thirty minutes to talk to a few people and I’ll see you there. I will round up your uncle Peter.”


    “Fine.” ir said in answer, spying Dan’s mother Pa across the courtyard. She had nned ongoing around to Pa’s ce after lunch. ir waited for auntie Viv to move away before saying to her sisters. “Pa is just over there. I’m going to talk to her now.”


    Sutton followed ir’s line of sight, spotting Dan’s mother. “Do you need backup?”


    ir shook her head. “The only ones I will need backup with are auntie Viv and uncle Peter. Pa is only going to be sad. She wanted Dan settled.”


    Keiraughed. “Good luck with that. Sounds like he can’t settle for one but likes variety. Scumbag that he is.”


    ir grinned at them and made her way across the courtyard to Pa.


    Dan’s mother saw hering, excusing herself from the conversation she was engaged in, and made her way across to join ir. “What did my son do, ir?”


    Tears stung her eyes when she realized Pa wasn’t ming her and was in fact sure her own son had done something to


    ad their rtionship. “It’s not important now.” The truth wille out, but Dan and Laura needed to be the ones to face it.


    “It is important. Is there anyway to fix it?”


    ir shook her head. “I’m sorry Pa there isn’t. I wanted to tell you that the thing I’m most upset about is not having you as a mother–inw.”


    Pa grabbed hold of ir’s hands, saying sincerely, “I wish I had another son. I could marry you off to ir. It makes me. sad it didn’t work out. Can you tell me what he did, please?”


    ir gave Pa a small, teary smile. “Pa, you will find out soon enough. I just don’t think I should be the one to tell you.”


    “Its bad isn’t it?” Pa guessed.


    ir said only. “Dan doesn’t think so. But it’s a point of no return for me.”


    “Have you told your aunt this?” Pa asked.


    “Yes.” ir frowned. There was something in Pa’s tone.


    Pa sighed. “Then why has she invited Dan and me to lunch today? Thinking she can fix your rtionship.”


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    AD


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